Chandler shows fight in a loss to national powerhouse IMG Academy

Chandler battled back after early deficit against high school all-star team.

Chandler's Zach Bowers (#44) can't bring down IMG Academy's Noah Cain (#22) in the first quarter of their high school football game on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, at Chandler High School in Chandler, Ariz.(Photo: Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports)

Chandler got down early on a blocked punt, showed up big defensively for long stretches, lost its quarterback by halftime, and managed to leave Austin Field on Saturday night feeling good about itself.

No. 7 nationally ranked Chandler fell to No. 2 Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy 27-14, but it might have gained even more respect in the country with the fight it showed.

Cash Peterman saw a swarm of white jerseys on his first punt and had it blocked and returned a short distance on Chandler's first possession, putting the Wolves in a quick 7-0 hole and quieting the crowd of about 7,000 in the process.

Late in the first half, just when Chandler's offense had calmed down and started to click, junior quarterback Jacob Conover, trying to avoid being sacked by Clemson-commit Xavier Thomas, landed awkwardly on his shoulder as he threw the ball out of bounds.

That took Conover out of his shoulder pads with his right arm in a sling for the second half, as he watched senior Billy Bolger try to orchestrate the offense against some of the nation's top-ranked defenders.

"It's tough to lose Jacob, he's such a good quarterback, but Billy is going to do fine," coach Shaun Aguano said.

Aguano said he believed Conover suffered a sprained AC joint and felt he could have played in the second half, but he didn't feel it was worth the risk with a long season ahead. It is not known how long Conover will be out until he has the shoulder further examined. He passed for more than 3,000 yards last season, leading Chandler to 13 wins and the 6A championship. He had a big summer, picking up an offer from Alabama.

Chandler became more conservative in the second half, trying to establish the run with DeCarlos Brooks and Drake Anderson sharing the load. But a 13-7 deficit grew to 27-7, before Chandler's offense began to click again.

Bolger, a team captain, hit Gunner Romney on a nice deep throw along the sideline for a 36-yard gain that set up Anderson's 4-yard scoring run. But it was too little, too late.

"He did a really nice job leading the group," Conover said of Bolger. "I'm super proud of him."

Standout performer

IMG Academy junior running back Trey Sanders carried seven times for 143 yards, including an 89-yard score that put Chandler in a 27-7 hole with 11:29 left.

More standouts

IMG Academy senior running back Noah Cain ran for scores of 25 and 13 yards. His second TD gave the Ascenders a 20-7 lead with 5:28 left in the third quarter.

Chandler's Romney hauled in a 29-yard score with four minutes left in the second quarter to cut IMG Academy's lead to 13-7.

That score was set up by Damion Maxwell taking a short snap on a fake punt on fourth and three and running 36 yards.

Star watch

Chandler junior free safety Avery Carrington intercepted Artur Sitkowski's deep pass at the Wolves' 45 late in the third quarter. But Chandler couldn't do anything with it and punted to the 9. Sanders showed why he is among the top junior running backs in the nation as the 6-foot-1, 220-pounder broke off the back-breaking play of the game 89 yards down the sideline.

Key stats

IMG Academy ran for 284 yards on 35 carries for an average of 8.1 yards.

Chandler had successive stops on fourth-and-short yardage situations in the second quarter.

Bolger engineered a nice 81-yard scoring drive, completing passes of 15, 6 and 37 yards to cut it to 27-14.

Chandler, trailing 13-7, was't able to take advantage of roughing-the-passer and roughing-the-punter penalties on a drive that ended on IMG Academy's 16 when Brooks fumbled with six minutes left in the third quarter.

Quotes

Chandler moved to the IMG 8 after going down 14-0 but Conover couldn't find a receiver on three consecutive incompletions and the drive stalled.

"We had a couple of chances in the red zone that could have put us ahead," Chandler's Aguano said. "Having Jacob get hurt, that was hard. I'm happy with how our defense played. They did a good job."

On the magnitude of the game: "I thought we were pretty good in the trenches in a game where we were way overmatched," Aguano said. "So I liked how our defense played. Offensively, we've got to clean up a little bit. Two times (in the red zone) I thought we should have scored. I loved the experience for our guys. Now we'll strap it up and get ready for Arizona football."

Chandler showed early nerves with three dropped passes.

Romney: "They're one of the best teams in the country. I feel like we could have played better. We could have probably won it. But I'm proud of my team. We held our own and I think we put Arizona on the map."

Up next

Chandler, ranked No. 1 in 6A, plays at Phoenix Pinnacle on Friday. IMG Academy, a team of all-stars who play a national schedule, travels back to the West to take on Corona (Calif.) Centennial next week.

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him at twitter.com/azc_obert. Watch azcentral sports high school football Facebook live every Wednesday at 7 p.m.

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IMG Academy's Artur Sitkowski (#4) tries to rush against Chandler's Detrick Gammage (#54) and Randy Robinson (#1) in the second quarter of their high school football game on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, at Chandler High School in Chandler, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

Chandler players in their pregame huddle before their high school football game against IMG Academy on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, at Chandler High School in Chandler, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

Chandler players in their pregame huddle before their high school football game against IMG Academy on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, at Chandler High School in Chandler, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

Chandler head coach Shaun Aguano talks to his players before their high school football game against IMG Academy on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, at Chandler High School in Chandler, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

Chandler's Jaheim Brown-Taylor (#27) warms up before their high school football game against IMG Academy on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, at Chandler High School in Chandler, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

IMG Academy's Trey Sanders (#6) rushes against Chandler's Avery Carrington (#11) in the first quarter of their high school football game on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, at Chandler High School in Chandler, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

Chandler's Gunner Romney (#18) celebrates his touchdown with DeCarlos Brooks (#25) during their high school football game against IMG Academy on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, at Chandler High School in Chandler, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

Chandler's Jacob Conover (#17) gets sacked by IMG Academy's Xavier Thomas (#19) in the second quarter of their high school football game on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, at Chandler High School in Chandler, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

Chandler's Billy Bolger (#16) gets a late hit by IMG Academy's Xavier Thomas (#19) in the third quarter of their high school football game on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, at Chandler High School in Chandler, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

Chandler's Billy Bolger (#16) gets a late hit by IMG Academy's Xavier Thomas (#19) in the third quarter of their high school football game on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, at Chandler High School in Chandler, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

IMG Academy's Jermaine Burton (#10) catches a 36-yard pass against Chandler's Avery Carrington (#11) in the first quarter of their high school football game on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, at Chandler High School in Chandler, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

Chandler's Billy Bolger (#16) hand off to Drake Anderson (#2) in the third quarter of their high school football game against IMG Academy on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, at Chandler High School in Chandler, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

Chandler fans dance to the music during a timeout during their high school football game against IMG Academy on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, at Chandler High School in Chandler, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

Chandler's Drake Anderson (#2) gets tackled by IMG Academy's Ayodele Adeoye (#20) and Kingston Harris (#99) in the fourth quarter of their high school football game on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, at Chandler High School in Chandler, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

Chandler's Mathew Koziol (#37) and Anthony Rieck (#7) tackle IMG Academy's Tj Pledger (#2) in the fourth quarter of their high school football game on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, at Chandler High School in Chandler, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

Chandler's Gunner Romney (#18) makes a sideline catch against IMG Academy's Jayden Curry (#15) in the fourth quarter of their high school football game on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, at Chandler High School in Chandler, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

Chandler head coach Shaun Aguano (right) greets IMG Academy head coach Kevin Wright at midfield after their high school football game on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, at Chandler High School in Chandler, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

IMG Academy's Ryker Brazerol (#5) scores a touchdown after a punt block in the first quarter of their high school football game against Chandler on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, at Chandler High School in Chandler, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

Chandler's Zach Bowers (#44) can't bring down IMG Academy's Noah Cain (#22) in the first quarter of their high school football game on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, at Chandler High School in Chandler, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports

Chandler's Jarick Caldwell (#10) rushes against IMG Academy's Mike Jones (#24) in the first quarter of their high school football game on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, at Chandler High School in Chandler, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/azcentral Sports